Hi...I was given a photo by Becky a while ago to retouch...unfortunately my computer bombed out! Anyway...just thought I would post my results quickly to see what you think...
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/Ziaphra/cdavis1_8x10.jpg)
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/Ziaphra/cdavis1_8x10x.jpg)
Ok, that is a great job!!
:wnw:
Good Post Z, but then you're work is good!! Keep it up :cool: Oh, yes, you may recognize my handle "klassylady25" and I also posted here this morning. Take a look see....
Thanx very much! :) ...and yes I do recognise your handle klassylady. ;)
Very nice good job :up:
Awesome Ziaphra! (Where's your witchy av? :) ) The shadows look a little heavy, but I know you're not finished yet. The faces and fabric look great. Glad to see you here! :up2:
Thanx Dave. :)
Hey capriccio...:) No, that's the finished product (unless someone can point out something drastically wrong)...if you look at the original those heavy shadows were there too...
One word...
XX XX XXXX XX XX
XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX
XX XXX XX XX XX XX XXX XX
XXXX XXXX XX XX XXXX XXXX
XX XX XXXX XX XX
-Mark.
Thank you very much Mark...:)
Quote from: Ziaphra on July 05, 2006, 02:27:13 PM
Thanx Dave. :)
Hey capriccio...:) No, that's the finished product (unless someone can point out something drastically wrong)...if you look at the original those heavy shadows were there too...
Sorry, my bad. I'm looking at it on my CRT at work, too, which isn't calibrated correctly. That's probably the issue with shadows, on my end. It does look really great. :)
It's not a problem cap...:)
Wonderful work Ziaphra... I'm sure the owners of the photo will be thrilled... :up:
:cool: whoa... nice job!
Thanx pcraft and JCM...:)
Amazing!
Great job!! How much work time did it take you?
Harvey
Thanx Jim. :) About a week in total havril...but a lot of that time was spent searching for bits and pieces that would work in the picture. :) What I did initially was restore the background to 'see' it a little better and then built it up from there...lots and lots of layers!
Here is another I picked up this morning...had to tweak it a bit again after uploading it! Ignore any jaggies as they are from resizing for the forum. :)
I am in 2 minds about this image now...what do you think about it in a sepia tone?
I think both are fantastic, however, the sepia toned one is more reflective of the photo that the owner is probably most familiar with. Tough call, I know!
Quote from: Ziaphra on July 06, 2006, 03:18:02 PM
Here is another I picked up this morning...had to tweak it a bit again after uploading it! Ignore any jaggies as they are from resizing for the forum. :)
Beautiful! I love the hair - seamless!
Thanx JCM...I personally prefer the sepia toned one but I think I'll leave this call to Becky. :)
Thanx cap...that was the easy bit! :D The sleeve and arm was a nightmare to look realistic...
Just done and am happy with everything but the hair...:( Any advice?
Great work on the face!
As far as the hair goes, I think you need to get back some of its natural texture. It seems to smooth. Just don't ask me how to do it.
LOL! I know what you mean...am working on it now. :)
The smudge tool set at 1 or 2 pixels, 80% or higher (you'll have to play with the strength) will help - pull out individual strands over and over in the direction of the curls. It is good to set a snapshot or duplicate the layer first so you can go back to an original state later if you have to.
It might help, depending on the size of the image, to use a spatter brush first to smugde out groups of hairs, then fine-tune it with a smaller pixel brush. This is how I usually do hair edges.
Hope it helps - and I hope someone posts an easier way to get that wispy look on the edges of hair! :D
Thanx cap...I managed to do it...what do you think?
Quote from: Ziaphra on July 07, 2006, 02:15:32 PM
Thanx cap...I managed to do it...what do you think?
Looks very natural. Great job!
Here's another...quite pleased with the way this turned out...I love restoring photos of children as having lost some of my kids photos with moving, I know what it's like to lose such a precious memory!
Lovely restoration Ziaphra... You definitely have great skill with, I presume Photoshop...
Keep up the great work!!! :up:
Thank you...restoring photos has always been my first love...
This is one of a series of three...ignore any jaggies as they are from resizing for the forum. :)
This is the second of the series...
Super work, as always! Where do you get the time from?
-Mark.
Thanx...lucky enough to be a stay at home Mom who works nights. :)
Amazing! The only thing I would suggest is changing is the mouth just a little bit. The more I look at the image the more the mouth stands out as the focal point of the face. It takes away emphasis from the eyes. I would say dull it down slightly through contrast or saturation. Other than that, you do fantastic work.
I'm happy that you're one of us.
Dave
Will try it and post back...thanx Dave.
Edit: Is this better?
That did it. Nice work.
ziaphra, you use paint shop pro 9? i am using the X version , 10 i assume.. i have been lazy about the tutuorials. guess i need to go back and practice ALOT i thought you might have had some graphics background but your post said you were self taught. maybe being a stay at home mom, with only 1 child and a hubby that works nights doesn't build your powers of concentration like a stay at home mom with 6 that works at night. and you are younger than me :D some people like the 9 version better maybe i should think about that too. at any rate you have a real gift for this sort of work.
Thanx milanab...I really should mention Worth1000 as I am a juror there (taking a bit of a sabbatical at the mo'). They helped me learn photomanipulation, ie, merging 2 different types of animals seamlessly to make one etc...have a look at the folder 'photoshop' on my website and you will see what I mean. As soon as I learnt what was possible, that was it...I was constantly begging for photos to restore in H2H contests, to the point where no-one had any more! So OPR has quenched a desperate thirst! :D
Such a cutie...:)
Beautifully done Ziaphra,this looks lovely! ;)
Thanx Ratz! :)
This was a bit of a nightmare and I am still not happy with her face! Any suggestions? I think it is something to do with her nose...
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/Ziaphra/BrehmL_10_5_8x10x.jpg)
Can you post a larger section, just of her face?
it seems in the original the nose has a shadow or highlight i guess i should say, all the way from eye brow to tip of her nose , which would narrow it down some and give it some definition...otherwise beautiful miracle you have gotten yourself into..
Thanx...I think I've got her face to a point where I am happy with it...ignore any jaggies, etc. :)
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/Ziaphra/Image2.jpg)
A little bit of artistic license on the bow...:)
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/Ziaphra/EllicksR_5_4_8x10x.jpg)
This came from the same family as the little girl above...
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/Ziaphra/EllicksR_5_2_8x10x.jpg)
Ziaphra, you are a phenomenon! What an asset to OPR. I wanted to let you know that I appreciate what you're doing and how prolific you are. I'm amazed that you manage a house full of kids and still pull off these wonderful restorations! Awesome!
My fond regards to you,
GG
Quote from: Ziaphra on July 16, 2006, 06:27:14 AM
A little bit of artistic license on the bow...:)
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/Ziaphra/EllicksR_5_4_8x10x.jpg)
Good job on all the retouching here, but I'd change that flipped eye. It makes her look different to me. Eyes are definitely one of the hardest things. See if you can borrow the ducts, etc from what youy have there and change the position of the eye itself inside the lid. Then you'll have a real gem on your hands. Otherwise, great restoration.
I would first change the direction the "new" eye is facing, turn it more toward the camera. Nice work reconstructing the eye! Also, I think the nose needs a little more highlight both on the tip and along the vertical part. It's seems to need a little more dimensionality.
Aah...finally some critique! :D Thanx guys!
Just a few minor tweaks, but otherwise, very nice. There's a dark band of shadow along the right side of ther face, starting at her forehead (on the right side). Also, it looks like you've changed the bow in her hair (perhaps I just can't see that in the original). Lastly, the sleeve on the right has too much contrast with the background, where as, in the original, it fades into the background (as it was most likely photographed).
This is also part of the same family as the two above...it looks like it was also originally a painting from the texture on the original so have kept true to that.
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/Ziaphra/EllicksR_5_3_8x10x.jpg)
The clean up looks great, but I don't think the finished image looks like the same individual. The eyes, eyebrows, and hair appear different.
I kind of thought the same thing, but then I've been really studying the picture. I think it's maybe just a matter of adding some subtle shading and highlights. If you look, the original had more highlights on the chin, which gave it more definition. There is also a highlight running down the nose. The eyes look like they could use a little more shading give them definition. If you look closely under the eyes of the original, you can see more shading. Very subtle, but it defines his cheekbones. The restoration looks great and it's only a matter of some very slight shading and highlighting to finish it, in my opinion :up:
Kenny
I agree that the eyes need a bit of shadowing, or, at least, to be lightened. It looks like a photograph, except for the eyes, which look a bit too painted. It just needs a "genreral softening" of the face. Otherwise, I think you've done a great job. You've restored a lot of photos and you do outstanding work!!
Christine
Thanx for the feedback...really great as I just needed another pair(s) of eyes. Will definitely go back to this one soon.
In the meantime, here is another I did...
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/Ziaphra/CulottaN_2_1_16x20x.jpg)
Excellent job! I wouldn't change a thing!
Christine
Thanx Christine!
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/Ziaphra/ZahnB_4_2_8x10x.jpg)
This was an absolute nightmare!
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/Ziaphra/CulottaN.jpg)
Wow, very impressive. I wouldn't change a thing.
Christine
The original looks like an OCD nightmare! :D It turned out very nicely! :up:
Thanx guys. I don't think I will get it any better to be honest! ???
Ughhhh! I hate doing hair!
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/Ziaphra/ZahnB.jpg)
Edit: I just realised I left out her breast outline...done now on the one uploaded to PhotoShelter! ;D
I love doing the baby ones!
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/Ziaphra/Phares.jpg)
Hi Ziaphra
Your restorations are astounding! How long have you been doing this, and where did you get your expertise?
GG
P.S. For someone who hates to work on hair, you do a beautiful job!
Amazing! Must be using the SGR filter
*special gunk remover
Keith, is that a PC or MAC filter? I have to have it NOW! At least you could have posted a website from which we could download it. (Probably the same site with the FWW filter. FIX WHATEVER'S WRONG! but I think that one only works on PCs)
GG
Uh, oh - I was joking about the filter. Yep, its made by the FWW filter company.
It's just amazing how retouchers like Ziaphra can get under all that stuff.
Ziaphra,
The work you have done on these photos is positively amazing. Any step by step instructions you can give would be great. I've been quite humbled by this entire OPR experience, and have realized how much a talented person like yourself can offer. You obviously should be proud of what you have done, and I can only hope that we can all learn from your talents.
Christine
WoW! Thanx for the wonderful comments! In answer to your question Glenna, I had only done about 4 restorations before joining OPR.
I was lucky with the above photo as there was very little damage to the right side and I was able to copy and paste and clone alot of the background without too much trouble.
First, I use PaintShop Pro v9. I find it more user friendly and absolutely ideal for restoration. The main tools I use are the clone tool, smudge tool, dodge/burn and change to target brush (not sure if this is available in CS)...all varying sizes and opacities. Considering the extensive damage to the photos we are working on, I do not consider texture on the original photo to be important. However if you are going to smooth it out, make sure you do the whole photo and be careful not to make it look soft, ie lose your defining lines and shadows.
I start off with my change to target brush and sample the colour I want and paint over and over the spot at about 10% opacity until I am happy with the colour match. Then I usually clone at 50% strength and keep going over a spot until I am happy with it. Once I am done with the cloning I use the smudge brush at between 48% and 58% to blend in my cloning...here I try to keep the brush going round in circles to avoid drag lines. When doing this, always follow the contours and the original shadowing. When I want to 'draw' a line as you saw in the video (the jaw line) I use my smudge brush at about 75% (watch the size of your brush here) to pull it and if necessary use the burn tool to 'draw' it in. I always use the the dodge and burn tools to add highlights or shadowing. Once I am happy with the overall work of a photo, I zoom right in and use the smudge brush at about 48% usually in a small brush size to get rid of any drag lines. When all is done and I am happy with it, I add about 4% noise and sometimes a further 3%...only do this once you are absolutely certain you have finished.
I downloaded a screen capture to record a bit of my work in progress...unfortunately it hung for a bit so I had to stop recording but it should give you some idea of my workflow. Next time I will do a colour one so that you can the change to target brush in action. You can go here to view it:
http://www.twango.com/media/Ziaphra.OPR/Ziaphra.10001
I need to find a better screen capture recorder (free of course) as the one I have becomes a HUGE avi file which I then had to compress as most sites only allow a max upload of 100mb. Maybe mpeg would be better? So if anyone knows of one, please let me know.
Ziaphra, your work is great! On a mac, to take a screen shot, you use SHIFT+COMMAND+4. Don't know about a pc.
Thanks for the tutorial Ziaphra.
As for screen captures, I like this free program, PrintScreen.
As for using the one that comes with Windows, just hit the Printscreen key, but it captures the entire screen & with this other one you can easily crop your capture.
www.gadwin.com PrintScreen is found on their products page, its free.
Gadwin PrintScreen captures the contents of the screen with a single keystroke. The captured screen can then be sent to the printer, or saved to disk as a file in 6 different graphics file formats. Gadwin PrintScreen can capture the entire Windows screen, the active window, or a specified area,
Does it actually record a video?
PrintScreen will save to 6 different image file formats, bitmap, jpg & etc. But video doesn't appear to be an option.
Ziaphra,
The only free Video screen recorder I have found so far is "AutoScreenRecorder", the free version does not give you a lot of options as to recording frame rate and such, I recorded 1min17sec and it had a file size of 27.8 Mb, I compressed it with MS Movie maker to 6.3 Mb wmv file. The quality at that compression is not too bad, and would make an 8 min video about 50 Mb, the free version has no sound recording capability - then I suppose you get what you pay for.
http://www.wisdom-soft.com/products/autoscreenrecorder_free.htm (http://www.wisdom-soft.com/products/autoscreenrecorder_free.htm)
Max
Found another one that may be better, allows audio recording and the file-size is small 1:27 min - 2.8 Mb - free version only allows 5 min recording, other snag is that for others to view they would have to download the De-coder, worth checking out.
http://www.zdsoft.com/ (http://www.zdsoft.com/)
Max
Thanx Max. The one I downloaded was 140mb and just over 8 minutes. I then compressed this to just over 4mb with the same runtime. I'll keep looking, hopefully one will pop up. I saw that one too but I don't think people will be happy about downloading stuff on their computers though! :P
I'm a big supporter of the open source community. For those of you who don't know what that its, open source means it's not owned by any one person or corporation. The source code for the program is freely available for anyone to use as they wish, so long as it remains free.
I've found an open source screen cap program that looks promising:
http://www.camstudio.org/
For compressing video files to make them smaller, I personally use Media Coder. It's open source as well:
http://mediacoder.sourceforge.net/
If you find an open source program you like, help spread the word about it. Donate if you wish, but it's not required or expected.
Support the open source community! :up:
Kenny :)
Open Source is great.
For those interested in a simple audio editing tool, Audacity is one of the best:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
Don't forget to get the LAME MP3 encoder if you want to save your project as MP3
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/faq?s=install&item=lame-mp3
Another good choice is EXPstudio:
http://www.expstudio.com/
Thanx for the input guys...I will be looking at some of those shortly! :)
http://perso.orange.fr/pierre.g/xnview/endownload.html
Check out this link. I have it and I love the tools in this program. Might come in handy. Presently the price is right... $0
Ziaphra--Your work is just stunning! I'm inspired just by looking through this thread--
The screen capture program that I use is UltraSnap http://www.mediachance.com/ultrasnap/ . I use the free version, but they do have a very reasonable paid version also. Mediachance also has a few other programs--I've never tried them--don't even know if they do the video part, but if they're anything like UltraSnap, they might be worth looking into.
Have to admit, though, I'm gonna look at the other links in this thread too! it's wonderful to have so many different people's experiences here...
Thanx for all the links! They will come in handy I'm sure...
Here's my latest one...I really have a hard time getting the hair to look right but I think I will send this one home now...
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/Ziaphra/CefaluM.jpg)
Ziaphra, that's a wonderful restoration that I believe the owners will be thrilled with...
If you haven't sent this on home yet, there's just a few things I think can improve it...
The whites of her eyes and teeth would benefit with some lightening...
Other than that, you've managed another stunning work.. :up: :wnw:
Robert
Ziaphra,
I don't know if you've sent this one back yet, but I had a couple comments too, if you don't mind.
1: Her hair is a little more poofy in the original. I traced over it then aligned it to your restored version to show the difference:
(http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/1848/womanshairlinexi8.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
2: Her eyes have changed a bit in character from the original. Although very beautiful, the have gotten more glamorous, and the eyebrows have gotten higher, thinner and more curved. In the original, her eyebrows are lower down and straighter across. Very subtle differences, but with eyes, every tiny difference really stands out.
Looking really great!
Kurt
Yup...I've reworked it...thanx! :)
This was a bit of a nightmare to keep 'real'! :-\
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/Ziaphra/CondyJ1.jpg)
This is one of two that I've had for a while. Real life is getting in the way of doing one of things I love to do most! :( I'm still not quite happy with it but I think I'm going to send her home.
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/Ziaphra/HoffmanC_1_1_11x14x.jpg)
Nice job. My only comment would be about the right side of her face. I think there would be either more hair here (Roughly indicated in red), or you would see an indication of her ear. She currently has a very large/deep cheek with no ear.
(http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/5324/hoffmanc1111x14xccmm5.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
By phischer (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/phischer) at 2007-07-17
Great work as always, Ziaphra! My only comments are that her nose could use more highlight at the end to make it more like the button nose I see in the original. Also, her cheeks could be a little rounder and pudgy, especially at the corners of her mouth.
Kurt
Good work on this toughie. I think I would soften the lines that go from the corner of her mouth up to her nose. I think that they should be a lot softer for a child her age.
This is a difficult one and you have done a wonderful job. When I stared at the original, I seemed to see more of a smile on her. Seemed like there was something more of the left eye (deeper socket) and right corner of her mouth (pulled up a little more to the side). We see what we want to see. :D
I think her bottom lip is more poutier..but what a amazing job you have done..great restore!
Sanbie
Thanx guys...makes me look at it with new eyes. ;)
Here we go.
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/Ziaphra/HoffmanC_1_1_11x14.jpg)
:up: A beautiful job Ziaphra.
I think you have just made someone very happy Ziaphra. :wnw:
Max
That one is very nice! :up2:
Thanx again guys...you have been invaluable as her little face eluded me for too long!
:up: Thats awesome!
Sanbie
Your usual beautiful job Ziaphra :up: